Political hip-hop: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox music genre |
{{Infobox music genre |
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| name = Political hip hop |
| name = Political hip hop |
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| image = Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy - 14021262284.jpg |
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| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[protest song]]s}} |
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[protest song]]s}} |
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| cultural_origins = 1980s |
| cultural_origins = 1980s |
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| other_topics = {{hlist|[[List of political hip hop artists|List of artists]]|[[progressive rap]]|[[alternative rap]]|[[gangsta rap]]|[[hardcore hip hop]]}} |
| other_topics = {{hlist|[[List of political hip hop artists|List of artists]]|[[progressive rap]]|[[alternative rap]]|[[gangsta rap]]|[[hardcore hip hop]]}} |
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'''Political hip hop''' (also known as '''political rap''') is a [[subgenre]] of [[hip hop music]] that emerged in the 1980s as a form of political expression and [[activism]]. It typically addresses [[Political sociology|sociopolitical]] issues through lyrics, aiming to inspire action, promote social change, or convey specific political viewpoints. The genre draws inspiration from earlier politically conscious artists, such as [[The Last Poets]] and [[Gil Scott-Heron]], as well as movements like the [[Black power movement|Black Power]] movement and the [[Black Panther Party]] from the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>[https://online.ucpress.edu/nrbp/article-abstract/3/3-4/141/194988/Review-Rap-and-Politics-A-Case-Study-of-Panther?redirectedFrom=fulltext Review-Rap-and-Politics] Ucpress.edu Retrieved 10 June 2024</ref> |
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'''Political hip hop''' (also know as political rap) is a [[subgenre]] of [[hip hop music]] that was developed in the 1980s as a way of turning hip hop into a form of political [[activism]]. Political hip hop generally uses the medium of hip hop music to comment on [[sociopolitical]] issues and send political messages to inspire action, create [[social change]], or to convince the listener of a particular [[worldview]]. It was inspired partially by politically-focused 1970s artists such as [[The Last Poets]] and [[Gil Scott-Heron]], as well as the [[Black Power movement]] and revolutionary politics of the 1960s and 1970s. Various hip hop artists emerged in the late 1980s espousing political messages and providing social and political commentary with [[KRS-One]] and his group [[Boogie Down Productions]] and [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]] in particular establishing themselves as some of the first predominantly political hip hop groups with albums in 1988. Soon to follow in 1989 and following years were other Political rappers, or known as "Conscious rap" including such groups as [[X-Clan]], [[Poor Righteous Teachers]], [[Paris (rapper)]], [[Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]] and others <ref>{{Citation | year=2024 | title=Political Rap | url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/political-rap-ma0000012322 | access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref> The genre has helped to create a new form of social expression for subordinate groups to speak about their exclusions, injustices, and lack of power.<ref>[http://journals1.scholarsportal.info/pdf/02611430/v33i0003/473_rrarhheapd.xml Rhythm, rhyme and reason: hip hop expressivity as political discourse"],</ref><ref>"[http://journals2.scholarsportal.info/pdf/00380237/v39i0002/133_prtmoor.xml Political Rap: The Music of Oppositional Resistance]",{{Subscription required}}</ref> |
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Notable early political hip hop artists include [[KRS-One]] and [[Boogie Down Productions]], as well as [[Public Enemy]], both of whom were influential in establishing political rap in the late 1980s with albums that addressed social and political concerns. Other artists, often labeled as part of the "conscious rap" movement, such as [[X Clan|X-Clan]], [[Poor Righteous Teachers]], [[Paris (rapper)|Paris]], and [[The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy|Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]], followed in subsequent years, expanding the genre's focus on political messages.<ref>{{Citation | year=2024 | title=Political Rap | url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/political-rap-ma0000012322 | access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref><ref>[http://journals1.scholarsportal.info/pdf/02611430/v33i0003/473_rrarhheapd.xml "Rhythm, rhyme and reason: hip hop expressivity as political discourse"],</ref><ref>"[http://journals2.scholarsportal.info/pdf/00380237/v39i0002/133_prtmoor.xml Political Rap: The Music of Oppositional Resistance]",{{Subscription required}}</ref> |
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There is no all-encompassing political hip hop ideology, rather, there are multiple perspectives that range anywhere from [[anarchism]] to [[Marxism]] to the values of the [[Five-Percent Nation]]. Hip hop and politics have long been intertwined, with many hip hop artists using their music as a means to speak out about political and social issues and express their views on current events. Over the years, there have been a number of hip hop songs that have addressed political issues such as police brutality, racism, and poverty, among others. Some well-known examples of political hip hop songs include: |
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*[[The Message (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five song)]] (1982) |
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*[[Fight the Power (Public Enemy song)|Fight the Power]] by [[Public Enemy]] (1988) |
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*[[Stop The Violence]] by [[Boogie Down Productions]] (1988) |
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*[[Fuck tha Police]] by [[N.W.A.]] (1988) |
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*Heed The Word Of The Brother by [[X Clan]] (1990) |
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*[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]] by [[Tupac Shakur]] (1998) |
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<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Perry |first=Imani |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv31jm90p |title=Prophets of the Hood |date=2004-11-30 |publisher=Duke University Press |doi=10.2307/j.ctv31jm90p |isbn=978-0-8223-8615-5}}</ref><ref> {{Citation | year=2021 | title=100 Essential Political & Conscious Hip Hop Albums | url=https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/100-essential-political-conscious-hip-hop-albums/ | access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> |
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The genre has long been intertwined with political activism, providing a platform for artists to address issues such as [[police brutality]], [[racism]], [[corruption]], and [[economic inequality]]. Some well-known examples of politically charged hip hop songs include: "[[The Message (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five song)|The Message]]" (1982), "[[Fight the Power (Public Enemy song)|Fight the Power]]" (1988), "[[Fuck tha Police]]" (1988), "[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]]" (1998), "[[Mosh (song)|Mosh]]" (2004), "[[Kingdom Come (Jay-Z album)|Minority Report]]" (2006), "[[The Blacker the Berry (song)|The Blacker the Berry]]" (2015), "[[Snow on tha Bluff (song)|Snow on Tha Bluff]]" (2020), and "[[The Bigger Picture (song)|The Bigger Picture]]" (2020).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Perry |first=Imani |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv31jm90p |title=Prophets of the Hood |date=2004-11-30 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-8615-5 |doi=10.2307/j.ctv31jm90p}}</ref><ref> {{Citation |title=100 Essential Political & Conscious Hip Hop Albums |year=2021 |url=https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/100-essential-political-conscious-hip-hop-albums/ |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> |
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Many hip hop artists have also been involved in political activism outside of their music. For example, [[Chuck D]] of Public Enemy has been involved in a number of [[Political campaign|political campaigns]] and organizations, and has used his music and public platform to speak out about issues such as police brutality and racism. Similarly, rapper and activist [[Common (rapper)|Common]] has been involved in a number of social justice causes, and has used his music to address issues such as police violence and racial inequality.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Conscious hip hop== |
==Conscious hip hop== |
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{{see also|Progressive rap}} |
{{see also|Progressive rap}} |
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'''Conscious hip hop''' (also known as '''[[socially conscious]] hip hop''' or '''conscious rap''') is a subgenre of hip hop that challenges the dominant cultural, social, political, sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic consensus,<ref name="Adaso Conscious"/> and/or comments on or focuses on [[social issues]] and [[Social conflict|conflicts]]. Conscious hip hop is not necessarily overtly political, but the terms "conscious hip hop" and "political hip hop" are frequently used interchangeably, and conscious hip hop may often be implicitly political. Conscious hip hop began to gain traction in the 1980s, along with hip hop in general. The term "nation-conscious rap" has been used to more specifically describe conscious hip hop music with certain strong political messages and themes, especially [[Black Power|Black empowerment]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal|jstor=466354|title = The State of Rap: Time and Place in Hip Hop Nationalism|last = Decker|first = Jeffery Louis|date = 1993|journal = Social Text |issue=34|pages = 53–84|doi = 10.2307/466354}}</ref> Some themes of conscious hip hop include social conscience, [[Afrocentricity]], [[religion]], culture, the [[economy]], depictions of the struggles of ordinary people, and aversion to or commentary on [[crime]] and [[violence]]. Conscious hip hop often seeks to raise awareness of social issues, sometimes leaving the listeners to form their own opinions rather than advocating for certain ideas and demanding actions like political hip hop.<ref name="Adaso Conscious">{{cite web |last1=Adaso |first1=Henry |title=What is Conscious Hip Hop? |url=http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/ConsciousRap.htm |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=Liveabout.com |publisher=[[Dotdash Meredith|About.com]]}}</ref> Conscious hip hop artists often use their music to express their views on a wide range of topics, including politics, race, poverty, and the environment. |
'''Conscious hip hop''' (also known as '''[[socially conscious]] hip hop''' or '''conscious rap''') is a subgenre of hip hop that challenges the dominant cultural, social, political, sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic consensus,<ref name="Adaso Conscious"/> and/or comments on or focuses on [[social issues]] and [[Social conflict|conflicts]]. Conscious hip hop is not necessarily overtly political, but the terms "conscious hip hop" and "political hip hop" are frequently used interchangeably, and conscious hip hop may often be implicitly political. Conscious hip hop began to gain traction in the 1980s, along with hip hop in general. The term "nation-conscious rap" has been used to more specifically describe conscious hip hop music with certain strong political messages and themes, especially [[Black Power|Black empowerment]] themes.<ref>{{Cite journal|jstor=466354|title = The State of Rap: Time and Place in Hip Hop Nationalism|last = Decker|first = Jeffery Louis|date = 1993|journal = Social Text |issue=34|pages = 53–84|doi = 10.2307/466354}}</ref> Some themes of conscious hip hop include social conscience, [[Afrocentricity]], [[religion]], culture, the [[economy]], depictions of the struggles of ordinary people, and aversion to or commentary on [[crime]] and [[violence]]. Conscious hip hop often seeks to raise awareness of social issues, sometimes leaving the listeners to form their own opinions rather than advocating for certain ideas and demanding actions like political hip hop.<ref name="Adaso Conscious">{{cite web |last1=Adaso |first1=Henry |title=What is Conscious Hip Hop? |url=http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/ConsciousRap.htm |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=Liveabout.com |publisher=[[Dotdash Meredith|About.com]] |archive-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008102655/http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/ConsciousRap.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Conscious hip hop artists often use their music to express their views on a wide range of topics, including politics, race, poverty, and the environment. |
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Some well-known examples of conscious hip hop artists include Common, [[Mos Def]], [[Talib Kweli]], [[J. Cole]], [[Tom MacDonald (rapper)|Tom MacDonald]], and [[Kendrick Lamar]]. These artists are known for their thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics, often tackling complex and controversial issues. |
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In contrast to certain stereotypical views of mainstream hip hop, which is often associated with [[Economic materialism|materialism]] and violence, conscious hip hop is often seen as a more positive and uplifting form of the genre. Conscious hip hop in reality is often bleakly realistic due to its focus on social issues. Despite frequent serious and bleak commentary, many conscious hip hop artists strive to inspire their listeners to think critically and make positive changes in their communities and the world.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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Overall, conscious hip hop is a significant part of the hip hop landscape, and its artists continue to play a key role in raising awareness about important social and political issues.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Evidence-Based Best Practice for Discharge Planning: A Policy Review |publisher=[[University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences|University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Library]] |first=Marissa |last=Lewis |year=2022 |doi=10.46409/sr.qbwh5074|doi-access=free }}</ref> |
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==History of political and conscious hip hop== |
==History of political and conscious hip hop== |
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=== Gangsta rap === |
=== Gangsta rap === |
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{{Main|Gangsta rap}}Early [[gangsta rap]] often showed significant overlap with political and conscious rap.<ref name="gangsta">{{cite book |last1=Lamont |first1=Michele |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXyxrh-5angC&q=%22political+rap%22&pg=PA334 |title=The Cultural Territories of Race: Black and White Boundaries |date=1999 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=9780226468365 |page=334 |access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> Pioneers in the gangsta rap genre such as [[Ice-T]], N.W.A., [[Ice Cube]], and the [[Geto Boys]] blended the crime stories, violent imagery, and aggression associated with gangsta rap with socio-political commentary. Using the now standard gangsta rap motifs of crime and violence, they were able to comment on the state of society and expose issues found within poor communities and society as a whole.<ref name="Adaso Gangsta">{{cite web |last1=Adaso |first1=Henry |title=Gangsta Rap |url=http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/GangstaRap.htm |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=About.com |publisher=[[Dotdash Meredith]]}}</ref> These early gangsta rap artists were influenced in part by the bleak and often "revolutionary" crime novels of [[Iceberg Slim]] as well as hip hop groups such as Public Enemy and [[Boogie Down Productions]]; groups that mixed aggressive, confrontational lyrics about urban life with social-political commentary and often radical political messages. The controversial debut album ''[[Straight Outta Compton]]'' by N.W.A, released in 1988 brought gangsta rap to the mainstream, but it also contained harsh social and political commentary, including the confrontational track "[[Fuck tha Police]]." Ice-T's work would sometimes focus on other topics: for example, he rapped about free speech on [[The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!|his third album]], and about drunk driving, domestic violence, and [[Nelson Mandela]] on [[O.G. Original Gangster|his fourth album]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Peter |date=August 27, 2015 |title=Straight Outta Compton review – how hip-hop pioneers NWA took on the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/aug/27/straight-outta-compton-review-how-hip-hop-pioneers-nwa-took-on-the-world |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> |
{{Main|Gangsta rap}}Early [[gangsta rap]] often showed significant overlap with political and conscious rap.<ref name="gangsta">{{cite book |last1=Lamont |first1=Michele |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXyxrh-5angC&q=%22political+rap%22&pg=PA334 |title=The Cultural Territories of Race: Black and White Boundaries |date=1999 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=9780226468365 |page=334 |access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> Pioneers in the gangsta rap genre such as [[Ice-T]], N.W.A., [[Ice Cube]], and the [[Geto Boys]] blended the crime stories, violent imagery, and aggression associated with gangsta rap with socio-political commentary. Using the now standard gangsta rap motifs of crime and violence, they were able to comment on the state of society and expose issues found within poor communities and society as a whole.<ref name="Adaso Gangsta">{{cite web |last1=Adaso |first1=Henry |title=Gangsta Rap |url=http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/GangstaRap.htm |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=About.com |publisher=[[Dotdash Meredith]] |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514232338/http://rap.about.com/od/genresstyles/p/GangstaRap.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> These early gangsta rap artists were influenced in part by the bleak and often "revolutionary" crime novels of [[Iceberg Slim]] as well as hip hop groups such as Public Enemy and [[Boogie Down Productions]]; groups that mixed aggressive, confrontational lyrics about urban life with social-political commentary and often radical political messages. The controversial debut album ''[[Straight Outta Compton]]'' by N.W.A, released in 1988 brought gangsta rap to the mainstream, but it also contained harsh social and political commentary, including the confrontational track "[[Fuck tha Police]]." Ice-T's work would sometimes focus on other topics: for example, he rapped about free speech on [[The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!|his third album]], and about drunk driving, domestic violence, and [[Nelson Mandela]] on [[O.G. Original Gangster|his fourth album]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Peter |date=August 27, 2015 |title=Straight Outta Compton review – how hip-hop pioneers NWA took on the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/aug/27/straight-outta-compton-review-how-hip-hop-pioneers-nwa-took-on-the-world |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> |
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After his departure from the group N.W.A in 1989, Ice Cube embarked on a solo career and released socio-political and conscious rap with gangsta rap elements in his 1990 debut album ''[[Amerikkka's Most Wanted]]'' and the companion [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Kill at Will]]''; the 1991 album ''[[Death Certificate (album)|Death Certificate]]''; followed by the 1992 album, ''[[The Predator (1992 album)|The Predator]]''.<ref name="MTV">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen |title=About Ice Cube |url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/ice-cube/biography/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117171804/http://www.mtv.com/artists/ice-cube/biography/ |archive-date=2015-11-17 |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=[[MTV]] |publisher=MTV}}</ref> Furthermore, Ice Cube produced and appeared on the controversial and radical political rap/gangsta rap album ''[[Guerillas in tha Mist]]'' by [[Da Lench Mob]] in the wake of the [[1992 Los Angeles Riots]].<ref name="MTV"/> Though Ice Cube would continue to sporadically insert political and social commentary into his music throughout his career, he once again focused on conscious and political rap with his 2006 album ''[[Laugh Now, Cry Later]]''<ref name="MTV"/> and 2008's ''[[Raw Footage]]'', featuring the single "[[Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It]]", a song dealing with the perceived correlation between music and global issues (e.g. the [[Iraq War]], school shootings, etc.). |
After his departure from the group N.W.A in 1989, Ice Cube embarked on a solo career and released socio-political and conscious rap with gangsta rap elements in his 1990 debut album ''[[Amerikkka's Most Wanted]]'' and the companion [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Kill at Will]]''; the 1991 album ''[[Death Certificate (album)|Death Certificate]]''; followed by the 1992 album, ''[[The Predator (1992 album)|The Predator]]''.<ref name="MTV">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen |title=About Ice Cube |url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/ice-cube/biography/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117171804/http://www.mtv.com/artists/ice-cube/biography/ |archive-date=2015-11-17 |access-date=November 14, 2015 |website=[[MTV]] |publisher=MTV}}</ref> Furthermore, Ice Cube produced and appeared on the controversial and radical political rap/gangsta rap album ''[[Guerillas in tha Mist]]'' by [[Da Lench Mob]] in the wake of the [[1992 Los Angeles Riots]].<ref name="MTV"/> Though Ice Cube would continue to sporadically insert political and social commentary into his music throughout his career, he once again focused on conscious and political rap with his 2006 album ''[[Laugh Now, Cry Later]]''<ref name="MTV"/> and 2008's ''[[Raw Footage]]'', featuring the single "[[Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It]]", a song dealing with the perceived correlation between music and global issues (e.g. the [[Iraq War]], school shootings, etc.). |
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Underground rap artists are often critical of their government and its policies, and use their music to express their political views. Many underground rap songs are highly political, and the lyrics often reflect the artists' personal experiences and perspectives on social and political issues. For example, some songs may address specific incidents of police brutality, while others may discuss the effects of poverty and inequality on communities of color.<ref name=":1" /> |
Underground rap artists are often critical of their government and its policies, and use their music to express their political views. Many underground rap songs are highly political, and the lyrics often reflect the artists' personal experiences and perspectives on social and political issues. For example, some songs may address specific incidents of police brutality, while others may discuss the effects of poverty and inequality on communities of color.<ref name=":1" /> |
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One of the main goals of underground rap is to challenge mainstream narratives and to provide an alternative voice to those who are often marginalized or ignored by mainstream media. |
One of the main goals of underground rap is to challenge mainstream narratives and to provide an alternative voice to those who are often marginalized or ignored by mainstream media. In addition to addressing political and social issues, underground rap is known for its emphasis on artistic creativity and individuality. In contrast to mainstream rap, which often follows a formulaic approach, underground rap is more diverse and experimental in its sound and style. This allows underground rap artists to express themselves in unique and innovative ways and to create music that is truly original and authentic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oware |first=Matthew |date=February 2014 |title=(Un)conscious (popular) underground: Restricted cultural production and underground rap music |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2013.12.001 |journal=[[Poetics (journal)|Poetics]] |volume=42 |pages=60–81 |doi=10.1016/j.poetic.2013.12.001 |issn=0304-422X}}</ref> |
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In addition to addressing political and social issues, underground rap is known for its emphasis on artistic creativity and individuality. In contrast to mainstream rap, which often follows a formulaic approach, underground rap is more diverse and experimental in its sound and style. This allows underground rap artists to express themselves in unique and innovative ways and to create music that is truly original and authentic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oware |first=Matthew |date=February 2014 |title=(Un)conscious (popular) underground: Restricted cultural production and underground rap music |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2013.12.001 |journal=[[Poetics (journal)|Poetics]] |volume=42 |pages=60–81 |doi=10.1016/j.poetic.2013.12.001 |issn=0304-422X}}</ref> |
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Underground rap is an important sub-genre of hip hop that provides a platform for artists to discuss important political and social issues while challenging mainstream narratives. By using their music to express their views and experiences, underground rap artists can raise awareness about important issues and inspire others to take action.<ref name=":0" /> |
Underground rap is an important sub-genre of hip hop that provides a platform for artists to discuss important political and social issues while challenging mainstream narratives. By using their music to express their views and experiences, underground rap artists can raise awareness about important issues and inspire others to take action.<ref name=":0" /> |
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Hip hop's impact on the political world is widespread. The response from mainstream politics has resulted in the spread of ideas, and opinions, and the formation of an informal dialogue surrounding largely controversial topics. |
Hip hop's impact on the political world is widespread. The response from mainstream politics has resulted in the spread of ideas, and opinions, and the formation of an informal dialogue surrounding largely controversial topics. |
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From the onset of hip hop in the 1980s throughout the 1990s, hip hop culture was either ignored or criticized by politicians. In the 1990s, the cultural idea that rap music was a symptom of the "destruction of American values" |
From the onset of hip hop in the 1980s throughout the 1990s, hip hop culture was either ignored or criticized by politicians. In the 1990s, the cultural idea that rap music was a symptom of the "destruction of American values" received bipartisan support.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Dana |title=Hip-Hop in Politics |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/hip-hop-politics-difference-generation-makes/story?id=18495205 |access-date=October 24, 2015 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> In 1992, [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dan Quayle]] called on [[Interscope Records]] to withdraw ''[[2Pacalypse Now]]'' because it was a "disgrace to American music". The catalyst for Quayle's outrage was an incident when a Texas youth shot a [[Texas Highway Patrol|state trooper]] and referenced the album as his motivation.<ref name="auto"/> In ''2Pacalypse Now,'' rapper Tupac Shakur raised issues of [[institutional racism]], [[Teenage pregnancy|teen pregnancy]], and [[police brutality]].<ref name="XXL">{{cite web |last1=Steiner |first1=B.J. |date=November 12, 2013 |title=2Pac Shakur Drops '2Pacalypse Now' |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/hip-hop-today/2013/11/today-hip-hop-tupac-shakur-releases-2pacalypse-now/ |access-date=November 30, 2015 |website=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL Magazine]]}}</ref> In the song "[[Trapped (Tupac Shakur song)|Trapped]]", he tells a fictional story of how a police officer slams him on the ground without cause, but before he gets arrested the police officer is shot. His lyrics read "how can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me?" |
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Throughout the 2000s, hip hop music has become a larger part of mainstream culture and is seen as more acceptable in the political sphere. In 2015, [[The Washington Post]] wrote "The politician's guide to how to be down with hip hop" |
Throughout the 2000s, hip hop music has become a larger part of mainstream culture and is seen as more acceptable in the political sphere. In 2015, [[The Washington Post]] wrote "The politician's guide to how to be down with hip hop" which draws reference to the use of hip hop culture in politics.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last1=Schwarz |first1=Hunter |date=July 31, 2015 |title=The Politician's Guide to how to be Down with Hip Hop |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/31/the-politicians-guide-to-how-to-be-down-with-hip-hop/ |access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> Criticism of hip hop that was considered moral and [[Patriotism|patriotic]] one generation ago, can make a politician seem "out of touch", especially with [[Young voters|younger voters]].<ref name="auto1"/> Politician [[Mike Huckabee]] was viewed as being "out of touch" when he referred to [[Beyoncé]] as "mental poison" in his book: ''God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=O'Neil |first1=Lorena |date=February 3, 2015 |title=Most Iowa Republicans Agree that Beyonce is Mental Poison |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6458350/beyonce-mike-huckabee-iowa-poll |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, during Barack Obama's Democratic primary campaign against then-rival [[Hillary Clinton]], he referenced [[Jay-Z]] by doing his [[Dirt off Your Shoulder]] motion in a rally and the audience erupted with support.<ref>{{cite news |last=Melber |first=Ari |author-link=Ari Melber |date=April 17, 2008 |title=Obama Meets Jay-Z in YouTube Mashup Slamming Clinton & Debate |work=[[The Nation]] |url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=312336 |access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref> The embrace of hip hop has occurred across party lines. Republican Senator [[Marco Rubio]] is a vocal fan of Tupac and gangsta rap. Rubio said "In some ways rappers are like reporters... You had gang wars, racial tension, and they were reporting on that."<ref name="auto"/> 45th [[President of the United States]] [[Donald Trump]] leveraged hip hop to his advantage during his 2016 election campaign. He occasionally quoted that rapper [[Mac Miller]] wrote a song called "[[Donald Trump (song)|Donald Trump]]", and that it has over 100,000,000 views.<ref name="auto1"/> |
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In the [[2018 United States elections|2018 midterm elections]], lawyer and former rapper [[Antonio Delgado (politician)|Antonio Delgado]] was elected to [[New York's 19th congressional district]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Foderaro|first1=Lisa|title=He's a Rhodes Scholar. The G.O.P. Keeps Calling Him a 'Big-City Rapper.'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/nyregion/antonio-delgado-rapper.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 2018|access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> |
In the [[2018 United States elections|2018 midterm elections]], lawyer and former rapper [[Antonio Delgado (politician)|Antonio Delgado]] was elected to [[New York's 19th congressional district]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Foderaro|first1=Lisa|title=He's a Rhodes Scholar. The G.O.P. Keeps Calling Him a 'Big-City Rapper.'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/nyregion/antonio-delgado-rapper.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 2018|access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> |
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===United States=== |
===United States=== |
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⚫ | As hip hop is a music genre originally created and dominated by [[African Americans|African-Americans]], political rappers often reference and discuss [[Black power movement|Black liberation]] and the Black power movement. Numerous hip hop songs express [[Anti-racism|anti-racist]] views, such as the popular [[The Black Eyed Peas]] song "[[Where Is the Love?]]"; however, artists advocating for more radical Black liberation have remained controversial. Artists such as [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]], Tupac Shakur, [[Ice Cube]], [[Game (rapper)|Game]], and Kendrick Lamar have advocated Black liberation in their lyrics and poetry. In Tupac Shakur's poem, "How Can We Be Free", Shakur discusses the sacrifices of Black [[Political prisoners in the United States|political prisoners]] and the rejection of patriotic symbols. Artists in the 2010, such as [[Killer Mike]] and Kendrick Lamar, have released songs criticizing the [[War on Drugs|war on drugs]] and the [[prison industrial complex]] from an anti-racist perspective. Hip hop music continues to draw the attention and support of the struggles of minority groups in a modern method of communication that attracts a young demographic of activists. Kendrick Lamar and many other rappers have been credited with creating discussions regarding "Blackness" through their music.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Pearce |first=Sheldon |date=2020-10-26 |title=Kendrick Lamar and the Mantle of Black Genius |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/kendrick-lamar-and-the-mantle-of-black-genius |access-date=2023-12-30 |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> |
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====Anti-racism, Black liberation and nationalism==== |
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⚫ | As hip hop is a music genre originally created and dominated by [[African Americans|African-Americans]], political rappers often reference and discuss [[Black power movement|Black liberation]] and the Black power movement. Numerous hip hop songs |
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Particularly with the advent of [[gangsta rap]], many hip hop artists come from [[underclass]] backgrounds. Artists such as Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Killer Mike have made references to class oppression. Tupac Shakur incorporates themes of [[revolutionary nationalism]] in his lyrics. In "Words of Wisdom" from the album ''[[2Pacalypse Now]]'', Shakur's lyrics underscore the refusal to accept [[economic inequality]] and inadequate employment opportunities. |
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====Anti-poverty, class struggle and socialism==== |
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Particularly with the advent of [[gangsta rap]], many hip hop artists come from [[underclass]] backgrounds. The aforementioned artists, such as Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Killer Mike have made just as much reference to class oppression as racial oppression. Tupac Shakur incorporates themes of [[Revolutionary nationalism|revolutionary nationalism]] in his lyrics. In "Words of Wisdom" from the album ''[[2Pacalypse Now]]'', Shakur's lyrics underscore the refusal to accept [[economic inequality]] and inadequate employment opportunities. Other political rappers, such as [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]], [[The Dope Poet Society]], [[Emcee London]], [[Dead Prez]], [[The Coup]], [[Rebel Diaz]], [[Paris (rapper)|Paris]], [[Sun Rise Above]], and [[Immortal Technique]], have advocated explicitly [[Communism|communist]] views—mostly leaning to [[Maoism]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}—whereas some rappers such as [[Lupe Fiasco]], [[Emcee Lynx]], [[P.O.S (rapper)|P.O.S]], and [[Sole (artist)|Sole]] have advocated [[Anarchism|anarchist]] positions.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} Political references have long been made in hip hop culture; some proving to be effective in spurring constructive discussion and others, such as [[The Coup]]'s originally planned album cover for ''[[Party Music]]''—which depicted the destruction of [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|The World Trade Center]] to signify the fall of capitalism—receiving negative criticisms (although the album art was designed before the [[September 11 attacks]] and was changed prior to its November 2001 release). Justice by [[Emcee London]] address corruption amongst Kenyan political class.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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⚫ | Rappers often reference their religious views. Killer Mike, however, has been heavily critical of [[organized religion]] in many of his more political songs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=August 31, 2011 |title=Listen: Killer Mike Talks 'Burn,' Religion With CNN |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/listen-killer-mike-talks-burn-religion-with-cnn/55894/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202181848/http://www.prefixmag.com/news/listen-killer-mike-talks-burn-religion-with-cnn/55894/ |archive-date=2011-12-02 |work=[[Prefix Magazine]]}}</ref> Chicago-raised rapper [[Kanye West]]'s ''[[Life of Pablo]]'' album is another that offers an outlet for religious expression and self-assessment. In January 2019, West began hosting [[Sunday Service Choir|"Sunday Service"]] events where fans and invited guests can come to listen to choir renditions of his music, gospel songs, and pray.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sakzewski |first=Emily |date=2020-02-27 |title=Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Brad Pitt have all been to Kanye's Sunday Service. But what happens there? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-27/what-is-kanye-wests-sunday-service-can-anyone-go-quick-guide/12001996 |access-date=2021-11-03 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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====Conspiracy theories==== |
====Conspiracy theories==== |
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Conspiracy theories have been referenced in hip hop lyrics for some time. Elements of the [[Five-Percent Nation|Five-Percenter]] philosophy, which include a number of conspiracy theories, have significantly influenced hip hop culture. |
Conspiracy theories have been referenced in hip hop lyrics for some time. Elements of the [[Five-Percent Nation|Five-Percenter]] philosophy, which include a number of conspiracy theories, have significantly influenced hip hop culture. Rapper [[B.o.B]] is a member of the [[International Flat Earth Research Society|Flat Earth Society]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Said-Moorhouse |first=Lauren |date=January 26, 2016 |title=Rapper B.o.B thinks the Earth is flat, has photographs to prove it |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/entertainment/rapper-bob-earth-flat-theory/ |access-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> Some artists, such as Public Enemy and Dead Prez, have been known to incorporate themes of government corruption and social injustice into their lyrics. In more recent years, artists like Killer Mike and J. Cole have also touched on these topics in their music.<ref name=":0" /> |
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====Views on religion==== |
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⚫ | Rappers often reference their religious views. |
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===Worldwide=== |
===Worldwide=== |
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On a global scale, hip hop's public reputation and exhibition is varied. For instance, Canada's most prominent political hip hop act is [[The Dope Poet Society]], who are known for [[Anti-racism|anti-racist]] and [[Anti-war movement|anti-war]] activism, as well as denouncing both [[Liberal Party of Canada|liberal]] and [[Conservative Party of Canada|conservative]] politicians. Their politics could be described as [[Maoism–Third Worldism|third-worldism]], or black internationalism. For example, in "Bombay to Zimbabwe," lead rapper [[Professor D]] states "from [[Mumbai|Bombay]] to [[Zimbabwe]] I study sharply: [[Bob Marley]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Black Panther Party]]."<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 4, 2017 |title=Bombay to Zimbabwe |url=https://genius.com/11652622 |work=[[Genius (company)|Genius]]}}</ref> Possibly on purpose, these influences seem ideologically contradictory in some ways (e.g. for instance, Marley's subtle [[socialism]] vs. Garvey's [[anti-communism]], and [[Nonviolence|non-violence]] vs. [[violence]]) but taken together they represent different approaches to the shared goal of linking anti-racist and [[Decolonization|anti-colonial]] struggles in the Americas and the rest of the world. [[Professor D]] and [[The Dope Poet Society]] also seem to represent this ideology on their album by featuring American political rappers like [[dead prez]] and others with rappers from around the world including [[Nigeria]] and [[Colombia]]. Other examples of hip hop around the world offer opposite perspectives. For example, [[Lowkey]] and [[Will Youmans|Iron Sheik]] have expressed [[anti-Zionism|anti-Zionist]] views in their music, whereas Golan and [[Subliminal (rapper)|Subliminal]] have expressed [[Zionism|pro-Zionist]] views.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=Dimitri |date=June 4, 2004 |title=A Zionist Hip-Hop Stance Comes to Lollapalooza |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/5774/ |work=[[The Forward]]}}</ref> |
On a global scale, hip hop's public reputation and exhibition is varied. For instance, Canada's most prominent political hip hop act is [[The Dope Poet Society]], who are known for [[Anti-racism|anti-racist]] and [[Anti-war movement|anti-war]] activism, as well as denouncing both [[Liberal Party of Canada|liberal]] and [[Conservative Party of Canada|conservative]] politicians. Their politics could be described as [[Maoism–Third Worldism|third-worldism]], or black internationalism. For example, in "Bombay to Zimbabwe," lead rapper [[Professor D]] states "from [[Mumbai|Bombay]] to [[Zimbabwe]] I study sharply: [[Bob Marley]], [[Marcus Garvey]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Black Panther Party]]."<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 4, 2017 |title=Bombay to Zimbabwe |url=https://genius.com/11652622 |work=[[Genius (company)|Genius]]}}</ref> Possibly on purpose, these influences seem ideologically contradictory in some ways (e.g. for instance, Marley's subtle [[socialism]] vs. Garvey's [[anti-communism]], and [[Nonviolence|non-violence]] vs. [[violence]]) but taken together they represent different approaches to the shared goal of linking anti-racist and [[Decolonization|anti-colonial]] struggles in the Americas and the rest of the world. [[Professor D]] and [[The Dope Poet Society]] also seem to represent this ideology on their album by featuring American political rappers like [[dead prez]] and others with rappers from around the world including [[Nigeria]] and [[Colombia]]. Other examples of hip hop around the world offer opposite perspectives. For example, [[Lowkey]] and [[Will Youmans|Iron Sheik]] have expressed [[anti-Zionism|anti-Zionist]] views in their music, whereas Golan and [[Subliminal (rapper)|Subliminal]] have expressed [[Zionism|pro-Zionist]] views.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ehrlich |first=Dimitri |date=June 4, 2004 |title=A Zionist Hip-Hop Stance Comes to Lollapalooza |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/5774/ |work=[[The Forward]]}}</ref> |
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== |
== Political hip hop scenes outside the United States == |
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===Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking political hip hop scene=== |
===Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking political hip hop scene=== |
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===Norwegian rappers=== |
===Norwegian rappers=== |
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Music created by [[Norway|Norwegian]] rappers often become part public discourse, making them part of the political process. This includes songs, lyrics and performances within the hip hop genre. Hip Hop music can be seen as an integral part of the democratic public sphere processes.<ref>Nærland, Torgeir Uberg. "Hip Hop and the Public Sphere: Political Commitment and Communicative Practices on the Norwegian Hip Hop Scene." ''Javnost - The Public'', vol. 21, no. 1, 2014, pp. 37–52., doi:10.1080/13183222.2014.11009138.</ref> |
Music created by [[Norway|Norwegian]] rappers often become part public discourse, making them part of the political process. This includes songs, lyrics and performances within the hip hop genre. Hip Hop music can be seen as an integral part of the democratic public sphere processes.<ref>Nærland, Torgeir Uberg. "Hip Hop and the Public Sphere: Political Commitment and Communicative Practices on the Norwegian Hip Hop Scene." ''Javnost - The Public'', vol. 21, no. 1, 2014, pp. 37–52., doi:10.1080/13183222.2014.11009138.</ref> |
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===Serbian political hip hop=== |
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Political hip hop developed in [[Serbia]] during the UN embargo on [[FR Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s. The most popular political hip hop group in [[Serbia]] is [[Beogradski Sindikat]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} The controversial song "Порука Шиптарима" (Translated to English: "Message for Albanians") started a boom of political hip hop in [[Serbia]]. During the 2000s, political hip hop was at its peak because of the political situation in the country. In the 2010s, political hip hop declined in popularity but remained a popular genre in the country. In 2020, there was an uptick in political hip hop discussing issues such as the [[2020 Serbian parliamentary election|2020 elections]] and the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia|COVID-19 pandemic]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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===Iranian political hip hop=== |
===Iranian political hip hop=== |
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Due to the long history of [[Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran|human rights violations in Iran]], many Iranian rappers address contemporary social and political issues through their music. Some well-known examples of Iranian political hip hop artists include [[Hichkas]], Fadaei, Shapur, Quf, [[Yas (rapper)|Yas]], and [[Toomaj Salehi]]. Since it is illegal to criticize the government and social issues in [[Iran]], most of the Iranian rappers live abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gritten |first=David |date=2022-11-28 |title=Toomaj Salehi: Dissident Iranian rapper could face death penalty |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63780502 |access-date=2022-12-27}}</ref> |
Due to the long history of [[Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran|human rights violations in Iran]], many Iranian rappers address contemporary social and political issues through their music. Some well-known examples of Iranian political hip hop artists include [[Hichkas]], [[Fadaei]], [[Shapur (rapper)|Shapur]], Quf, [[Yas (rapper)|Yas]], and [[Toomaj Salehi]]. Since it is illegal to criticize the government and social issues in [[Iran]], most of the Iranian rappers live abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gritten |first=David |date=2022-11-28 |title=Toomaj Salehi: Dissident Iranian rapper could face death penalty |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63780502 |access-date=2022-12-27}}</ref> |
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Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who lives in Iran, was arrested during the [[Mahsa Amini protests]] on October 30, 2022, for his [[Social consciousness|social awareness]] activities on his [[social media]] and releasing two protest songs "Battleground" and "Omen" during the protests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Iran protesters defy "brutal crackdown" as another teen is reportedly killed |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protesters-defy-brutal-crackdown-as-another-teen-is-reportedly-killed/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 27, 2022, Iranian media revealed that Salehi was charged with "[[Mofsed-e-filarz|corruption on Earth]]", an offense which could carry the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2022 |title=Islamic Republic's Security Forces Arrest Dissident Rapper |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210306648 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[Iran International]] |language=en}}</ref> Salehi became one of the well-known faces of the revolutionary movement "[[Woman, Life, Freedom]]", denouncing the repression by the Iranian government. He has since been reportedly in [[solitary confinement]] and under [[torture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Parent |first1=Deepa |last2=Habibiazad |first2=Ghoncheh |date=2022-11-11 |title=Rapper who protested over death of Mahsa Amini faces execution in Iran |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/11/rapper-who-protested-over-death-of-mahsa-amini-faces-execution-in-iran |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moshtaghian |first=Artemis |date=2022-11-06 |title=Family fears for life of rapper they say was violently arrested after encouraging Iranians to protest |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/06/middleeast/iranian-rapper-arrested-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> |
Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who lives in Iran, was arrested during the [[Mahsa Amini protests]] on October 30, 2022, for his [[Social consciousness|social awareness]] activities on his [[social media]] and releasing two protest songs "Battleground" and "Omen" during the protests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Iran protesters defy "brutal crackdown" as another teen is reportedly killed |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protesters-defy-brutal-crackdown-as-another-teen-is-reportedly-killed/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 27, 2022, Iranian media revealed that Salehi was charged with "[[Mofsed-e-filarz|corruption on Earth]]", an offense which could carry the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2022 |title=Islamic Republic's Security Forces Arrest Dissident Rapper |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202210306648 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[Iran International]] |language=en}}</ref> Salehi became one of the well-known faces of the revolutionary movement "[[Woman, Life, Freedom]]", denouncing the repression by the Iranian government. He has since been reportedly in [[solitary confinement]] and under [[torture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Parent |first1=Deepa |last2=Habibiazad |first2=Ghoncheh |date=2022-11-11 |title=Rapper who protested over death of Mahsa Amini faces execution in Iran |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/11/rapper-who-protested-over-death-of-mahsa-amini-faces-execution-in-iran |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moshtaghian |first=Artemis |date=2022-11-06 |title=Family fears for life of rapper they say was violently arrested after encouraging Iranians to protest |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/06/middleeast/iranian-rapper-arrested-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> |
Latest revision as of 10:37, 9 December 2024
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Political hip hop | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | 1980s |
Derivative forms | Conscious hip hop |
Other topics | |
Political hip hop (also known as political rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that emerged in the 1980s as a form of political expression and activism. It typically addresses sociopolitical issues through lyrics, aiming to inspire action, promote social change, or convey specific political viewpoints. The genre draws inspiration from earlier politically conscious artists, such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, as well as movements like the Black Power movement and the Black Panther Party from the 1960s and 1970s.[1]
Notable early political hip hop artists include KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, as well as Public Enemy, both of whom were influential in establishing political rap in the late 1980s with albums that addressed social and political concerns. Other artists, often labeled as part of the "conscious rap" movement, such as X-Clan, Poor Righteous Teachers, Paris, and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, followed in subsequent years, expanding the genre's focus on political messages.[2][3][4]
The genre has long been intertwined with political activism, providing a platform for artists to address issues such as police brutality, racism, corruption, and economic inequality. Some well-known examples of politically charged hip hop songs include: "The Message" (1982), "Fight the Power" (1988), "Fuck tha Police" (1988), "Changes" (1998), "Mosh" (2004), "Minority Report" (2006), "The Blacker the Berry" (2015), "Snow on Tha Bluff" (2020), and "The Bigger Picture" (2020).[5][6]
Conscious hip hop
[edit]Conscious hip hop (also known as socially conscious hip hop or conscious rap) is a subgenre of hip hop that challenges the dominant cultural, social, political, sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic consensus,[7] and/or comments on or focuses on social issues and conflicts. Conscious hip hop is not necessarily overtly political, but the terms "conscious hip hop" and "political hip hop" are frequently used interchangeably, and conscious hip hop may often be implicitly political. Conscious hip hop began to gain traction in the 1980s, along with hip hop in general. The term "nation-conscious rap" has been used to more specifically describe conscious hip hop music with certain strong political messages and themes, especially Black empowerment themes.[8] Some themes of conscious hip hop include social conscience, Afrocentricity, religion, culture, the economy, depictions of the struggles of ordinary people, and aversion to or commentary on crime and violence. Conscious hip hop often seeks to raise awareness of social issues, sometimes leaving the listeners to form their own opinions rather than advocating for certain ideas and demanding actions like political hip hop.[7] Conscious hip hop artists often use their music to express their views on a wide range of topics, including politics, race, poverty, and the environment.
History of political and conscious hip hop
[edit]Origins and early development
[edit]Before the emergence of political hip hop, the Black Power Movement and the emphasis on black pride arising in the mid-1960s inspired several commentaries incorporating Black Power ideological elements. Songs expressing the theme of black pride include James Brown's "Say it Loud (I'm Black and Proud)" (1969) and Billy Paul's "Am I Black Enough for You?" (1972). The proto-rap of Gil Scott-Heron is an early influence on political and conscious rap, however, most of his earlier socially conscious and political albums fall within the jazz, soul, and funk genres. Following Ronald Reagan’s election as President in 1980, conditions in inner-city African-American communities worsened, and hip hop political commentators began to increasingly address worsening social problems such as mass unemployment, police brutality, incarceration, inadequate public schools, political apathy, and oppression.[9] One of the first socially conscious hip hop songs was "How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?" by Brother D with Collective Effort.[10] One of the most successful early hip hop conscious rap songs was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message", an influential political and conscious hip hop track, decrying the poverty, violence, and dead-end lives of the urban poor of the time. The 1985 film Rappin' saw a more political dimension to hip hop, including some verses of Ice-T's rap Killers, his first political record. Furthermore, the complex socio-political issues before hip hop and during all of its stages severely influenced its birth and direction.[11]
Gangsta rap
[edit]Early gangsta rap often showed significant overlap with political and conscious rap.[12] Pioneers in the gangsta rap genre such as Ice-T, N.W.A., Ice Cube, and the Geto Boys blended the crime stories, violent imagery, and aggression associated with gangsta rap with socio-political commentary. Using the now standard gangsta rap motifs of crime and violence, they were able to comment on the state of society and expose issues found within poor communities and society as a whole.[13] These early gangsta rap artists were influenced in part by the bleak and often "revolutionary" crime novels of Iceberg Slim as well as hip hop groups such as Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions; groups that mixed aggressive, confrontational lyrics about urban life with social-political commentary and often radical political messages. The controversial debut album Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A, released in 1988 brought gangsta rap to the mainstream, but it also contained harsh social and political commentary, including the confrontational track "Fuck tha Police." Ice-T's work would sometimes focus on other topics: for example, he rapped about free speech on his third album, and about drunk driving, domestic violence, and Nelson Mandela on his fourth album.[14]
After his departure from the group N.W.A in 1989, Ice Cube embarked on a solo career and released socio-political and conscious rap with gangsta rap elements in his 1990 debut album Amerikkka's Most Wanted and the companion EP Kill at Will; the 1991 album Death Certificate; followed by the 1992 album, The Predator.[15] Furthermore, Ice Cube produced and appeared on the controversial and radical political rap/gangsta rap album Guerillas in tha Mist by Da Lench Mob in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.[15] Though Ice Cube would continue to sporadically insert political and social commentary into his music throughout his career, he once again focused on conscious and political rap with his 2006 album Laugh Now, Cry Later[15] and 2008's Raw Footage, featuring the single "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It", a song dealing with the perceived correlation between music and global issues (e.g. the Iraq War, school shootings, etc.).
Underground rap
[edit]Underground rap, also known as underground hip hop, is a subgenre of hip hop known for its political and socially conscious lyrics. Unlike mainstream rap, which often focuses on themes such as money, power, and fame, underground rap addresses more serious and often controversial topics, such as racism, police brutality, and social inequality.[5]
Underground rap artists are often critical of their government and its policies, and use their music to express their political views. Many underground rap songs are highly political, and the lyrics often reflect the artists' personal experiences and perspectives on social and political issues. For example, some songs may address specific incidents of police brutality, while others may discuss the effects of poverty and inequality on communities of color.[9]
One of the main goals of underground rap is to challenge mainstream narratives and to provide an alternative voice to those who are often marginalized or ignored by mainstream media. In addition to addressing political and social issues, underground rap is known for its emphasis on artistic creativity and individuality. In contrast to mainstream rap, which often follows a formulaic approach, underground rap is more diverse and experimental in its sound and style. This allows underground rap artists to express themselves in unique and innovative ways and to create music that is truly original and authentic.[16]
Underground rap is an important sub-genre of hip hop that provides a platform for artists to discuss important political and social issues while challenging mainstream narratives. By using their music to express their views and experiences, underground rap artists can raise awareness about important issues and inspire others to take action.[5]
The artists who consistently produce conscious rap are largely considered underground.[17][18] However, mainstream artists are increasingly including elements of conscious hip hop in their songs.[19] There are hundreds of artists whose music could be described as "political" or who identify as political rappers: see the list of political hip hop artists page for a partial list.[20]
Hip hop in politics
[edit]Hip hop's impact on the political world is widespread. The response from mainstream politics has resulted in the spread of ideas, and opinions, and the formation of an informal dialogue surrounding largely controversial topics.
From the onset of hip hop in the 1980s throughout the 1990s, hip hop culture was either ignored or criticized by politicians. In the 1990s, the cultural idea that rap music was a symptom of the "destruction of American values" received bipartisan support.[21] In 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle called on Interscope Records to withdraw 2Pacalypse Now because it was a "disgrace to American music". The catalyst for Quayle's outrage was an incident when a Texas youth shot a state trooper and referenced the album as his motivation.[21] In 2Pacalypse Now, rapper Tupac Shakur raised issues of institutional racism, teen pregnancy, and police brutality.[22] In the song "Trapped", he tells a fictional story of how a police officer slams him on the ground without cause, but before he gets arrested the police officer is shot. His lyrics read "how can I feel guilty after all the things they did to me?"
Throughout the 2000s, hip hop music has become a larger part of mainstream culture and is seen as more acceptable in the political sphere. In 2015, The Washington Post wrote "The politician's guide to how to be down with hip hop" which draws reference to the use of hip hop culture in politics.[23] Criticism of hip hop that was considered moral and patriotic one generation ago, can make a politician seem "out of touch", especially with younger voters.[23] Politician Mike Huckabee was viewed as being "out of touch" when he referred to Beyoncé as "mental poison" in his book: God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy.[24] In 2008, during Barack Obama's Democratic primary campaign against then-rival Hillary Clinton, he referenced Jay-Z by doing his Dirt off Your Shoulder motion in a rally and the audience erupted with support.[25] The embrace of hip hop has occurred across party lines. Republican Senator Marco Rubio is a vocal fan of Tupac and gangsta rap. Rubio said "In some ways rappers are like reporters... You had gang wars, racial tension, and they were reporting on that."[21] 45th President of the United States Donald Trump leveraged hip hop to his advantage during his 2016 election campaign. He occasionally quoted that rapper Mac Miller wrote a song called "Donald Trump", and that it has over 100,000,000 views.[23]
In the 2018 midterm elections, lawyer and former rapper Antonio Delgado was elected to New York's 19th congressional district.[26]
Ideology and views of political rappers
[edit]United States
[edit]As hip hop is a music genre originally created and dominated by African-Americans, political rappers often reference and discuss Black liberation and the Black power movement. Numerous hip hop songs express anti-racist views, such as the popular The Black Eyed Peas song "Where Is the Love?"; however, artists advocating for more radical Black liberation have remained controversial. Artists such as Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Game, and Kendrick Lamar have advocated Black liberation in their lyrics and poetry. In Tupac Shakur's poem, "How Can We Be Free", Shakur discusses the sacrifices of Black political prisoners and the rejection of patriotic symbols. Artists in the 2010, such as Killer Mike and Kendrick Lamar, have released songs criticizing the war on drugs and the prison industrial complex from an anti-racist perspective. Hip hop music continues to draw the attention and support of the struggles of minority groups in a modern method of communication that attracts a young demographic of activists. Kendrick Lamar and many other rappers have been credited with creating discussions regarding "Blackness" through their music.[27]
Particularly with the advent of gangsta rap, many hip hop artists come from underclass backgrounds. Artists such as Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Killer Mike have made references to class oppression. Tupac Shakur incorporates themes of revolutionary nationalism in his lyrics. In "Words of Wisdom" from the album 2Pacalypse Now, Shakur's lyrics underscore the refusal to accept economic inequality and inadequate employment opportunities.
Rappers often reference their religious views. Killer Mike, however, has been heavily critical of organized religion in many of his more political songs.[28] Chicago-raised rapper Kanye West's Life of Pablo album is another that offers an outlet for religious expression and self-assessment. In January 2019, West began hosting "Sunday Service" events where fans and invited guests can come to listen to choir renditions of his music, gospel songs, and pray.[29]
Conspiracy theories
[edit]Conspiracy theories have been referenced in hip hop lyrics for some time. Elements of the Five-Percenter philosophy, which include a number of conspiracy theories, have significantly influenced hip hop culture. Rapper B.o.B is a member of the Flat Earth Society.[30] Some artists, such as Public Enemy and Dead Prez, have been known to incorporate themes of government corruption and social injustice into their lyrics. In more recent years, artists like Killer Mike and J. Cole have also touched on these topics in their music.[5]
Worldwide
[edit]On a global scale, hip hop's public reputation and exhibition is varied. For instance, Canada's most prominent political hip hop act is The Dope Poet Society, who are known for anti-racist and anti-war activism, as well as denouncing both liberal and conservative politicians. Their politics could be described as third-worldism, or black internationalism. For example, in "Bombay to Zimbabwe," lead rapper Professor D states "from Bombay to Zimbabwe I study sharply: Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Mahatma Gandhi, Black Panther Party."[31] Possibly on purpose, these influences seem ideologically contradictory in some ways (e.g. for instance, Marley's subtle socialism vs. Garvey's anti-communism, and non-violence vs. violence) but taken together they represent different approaches to the shared goal of linking anti-racist and anti-colonial struggles in the Americas and the rest of the world. Professor D and The Dope Poet Society also seem to represent this ideology on their album by featuring American political rappers like dead prez and others with rappers from around the world including Nigeria and Colombia. Other examples of hip hop around the world offer opposite perspectives. For example, Lowkey and Iron Sheik have expressed anti-Zionist views in their music, whereas Golan and Subliminal have expressed pro-Zionist views.[32]
Political hip hop scenes outside the United States
[edit]Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking political hip hop scene
[edit]Political rappers of Hispanic, Brazilian or Portuguese descent include Calle 13, Racionais MC's, Olmeca, Tohil, Immortal Technique, Rebel Diaz, Manny Phesto, MRK, Portavoz, Facção Central, Psycho Realm, Ana Tijoux, Bocafloja, Zack de la Rocha, Pablo Hasél (Spain), Los Chikos del Maiz (from Valencia, Spain), and Canserbero.
UK political hip hop scene
[edit]Within the United Kingdom hip hop and Grime music scene, political, conscious rap is common, with artists including Lowkey, who focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict and other issues regarding the Middle East, Logic, Akala, I & Ideal, Mic Righteous, Klashnekoff, Mic Reckless, Riz MC and English Frank.
Before the snap election on June 8, 2017, Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn met with JME while campaigning for the Labour Party to encourage young people to register to vote.[33] During the interview, JME explained that many young voters don't feel as though politicians have their best interests at heart. He said they often feel that voting makes no difference anyway. He went on to tell Corbyn that he is the first party leader he feels he can trust, because he is "so genuine it feels like I’m about to meet my mum’s friend".[34]
Australian hip hop scene
[edit]Indigenous rappers Briggs and his collaboration with Trials for A.B. Original is one of the most prominent political hip hop artists in Australia. Artists Urthboy, Jimblah, The Herd, Horrorshow, and L-FRESH the Lion are all part of the Elefant Traks record label, and often have politically motivated songs. Their main focuses are racism and xenophobia but The Herd also focuses on issues of climate, gender inequality and war. Quro's 2007 EP Goodnight Mr. Howard contains overtly political critique of the Howard government and its policies. Some artists have expressed views on domestic violence through their lyrics. One example is the all-female indigenous hip hop group, Oetha, in their 2019 song Disturbing the Peace.[35]
Norwegian rappers
[edit]Music created by Norwegian rappers often become part public discourse, making them part of the political process. This includes songs, lyrics and performances within the hip hop genre. Hip Hop music can be seen as an integral part of the democratic public sphere processes.[36]
Iranian political hip hop
[edit]Due to the long history of human rights violations in Iran, many Iranian rappers address contemporary social and political issues through their music. Some well-known examples of Iranian political hip hop artists include Hichkas, Fadaei, Shapur, Quf, Yas, and Toomaj Salehi. Since it is illegal to criticize the government and social issues in Iran, most of the Iranian rappers live abroad.[37]
Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who lives in Iran, was arrested during the Mahsa Amini protests on October 30, 2022, for his social awareness activities on his social media and releasing two protest songs "Battleground" and "Omen" during the protests.[38] On November 27, 2022, Iranian media revealed that Salehi was charged with "corruption on Earth", an offense which could carry the death penalty.[39] Salehi became one of the well-known faces of the revolutionary movement "Woman, Life, Freedom", denouncing the repression by the Iranian government. He has since been reportedly in solitary confinement and under torture.[40][41]
See also
[edit]- List of political hip hop artists
- Protest music
- Jihadism and hip-hop
- Hip hop feminism
- Hip hop and social injustice
- Stop Murder Music
References
[edit]- ^ Review-Rap-and-Politics Ucpress.edu Retrieved 10 June 2024
- ^ Political Rap, 2024, retrieved February 4, 2024
- ^ "Rhythm, rhyme and reason: hip hop expressivity as political discourse",
- ^ "Political Rap: The Music of Oppositional Resistance",(subscription required)
- ^ a b c d Perry, Imani (November 30, 2004). Prophets of the Hood. Duke University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv31jm90p. ISBN 978-0-8223-8615-5.
- ^ 100 Essential Political & Conscious Hip Hop Albums, 2021, retrieved February 2, 2024
- ^ a b Adaso, Henry. "What is Conscious Hip Hop?". Liveabout.com. About.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ Decker, Jeffery Louis (1993). "The State of Rap: Time and Place in Hip Hop Nationalism". Social Text (34): 53–84. doi:10.2307/466354. JSTOR 466354.
- ^ a b Stewart, James (Summer 2005). "Message in the Music: Political Commentary in Black Popular Music from Rhythm and Blues to Early Hip Hop" (PDF). The Journal of African American History. 90 (3): 196–225. doi:10.1086/JAAHv90n3p196. JSTOR 20063998. S2CID 96427971.
- ^ Abramovich, Alex (August 5, 2013). "Agitate, Educate, Organize". London Review of Books.
- ^ Chang, Jeff. Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation.
- ^ Lamont, Michele (1999). The Cultural Territories of Race: Black and White Boundaries. University of Chicago Press. p. 334. ISBN 9780226468365. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
- ^ Adaso, Henry. "Gangsta Rap". About.com. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (August 27, 2015). "Straight Outta Compton review – how hip-hop pioneers NWA took on the world". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen. "About Ice Cube". MTV. MTV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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- ^ Thompson, Amanda (May 6, 2004). "Gender in Hip Hop: A Research Study" (PDF). Humboldt State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
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(help) - ^ "Get Your Mind Right: Underground Vs. Mainstream". HipHopDX. February 10, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ Forman, Murray (May 19, 2010). "Conscious Hip-Hop, Change, and the Obama Era". American Studies Journal (54). doi:10.18422/54-03.
- ^ "Underground Rap Music Genre Overview | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ a b c Hughes, Dana. "Hip-Hop in Politics". ABC News. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ Steiner, B.J. (November 12, 2013). "2Pac Shakur Drops '2Pacalypse Now'". XXL Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ^ a b c Schwarz, Hunter (July 31, 2015). "The Politician's Guide to how to be Down with Hip Hop". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ O'Neil, Lorena (February 3, 2015). "Most Iowa Republicans Agree that Beyonce is Mental Poison". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ Melber, Ari (April 17, 2008). "Obama Meets Jay-Z in YouTube Mashup Slamming Clinton & Debate". The Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
- ^ Foderaro, Lisa (October 2018). "He's a Rhodes Scholar. The G.O.P. Keeps Calling Him a 'Big-City Rapper.'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
- ^ Pearce, Sheldon (October 26, 2020). "Kendrick Lamar and the Mantle of Black Genius". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ Martin, Andrew (August 31, 2011). "Listen: Killer Mike Talks 'Burn,' Religion With CNN". Prefix Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011.
- ^ Sakzewski, Emily (February 27, 2020). "Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Brad Pitt have all been to Kanye's Sunday Service. But what happens there?". ABC News. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ Said-Moorhouse, Lauren (January 26, 2016). "Rapper B.o.B thinks the Earth is flat, has photographs to prove it". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "Bombay to Zimbabwe". Genius. June 4, 2017.
- ^ Ehrlich, Dimitri (June 4, 2004). "A Zionist Hip-Hop Stance Comes to Lollapalooza". The Forward.
- ^ Jade, Kelly (May 15, 2017). "Jeremy Corbyn sits down with grime artist JME to encourage young people to vote". Metro. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- ^ Shahid, Omar (March 19, 2012). "Lowkey, Logic and a new wave of political British hip-hop MCs". The Guardian.
- ^ Eliezer, Christie (November 25, 2019). "Oetha's new track has a powerful message about domestic abuse". The Music Network. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ^ Nærland, Torgeir Uberg. "Hip Hop and the Public Sphere: Political Commitment and Communicative Practices on the Norwegian Hip Hop Scene." Javnost - The Public, vol. 21, no. 1, 2014, pp. 37–52., doi:10.1080/13183222.2014.11009138.
- ^ Gritten, David (November 28, 2022). "Toomaj Salehi: Dissident Iranian rapper could face death penalty". BBC News. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Iran protesters defy "brutal crackdown" as another teen is reportedly killed". CBS News. November 3, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Islamic Republic's Security Forces Arrest Dissident Rapper". Iran International. October 30, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Parent, Deepa; Habibiazad, Ghoncheh (November 11, 2022). "Rapper who protested over death of Mahsa Amini faces execution in Iran". The Guardian. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis (November 6, 2022). "Family fears for life of rapper they say was violently arrested after encouraging Iranians to protest". CNN. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Bush, John (2003). The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-Hop. Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-759-5.
- Mohamed Nasir, Kamaludeen (2020). Representing Islam: Hip-Hop of the September 11 Generation. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, ISBN 9780253053046.